NASA Astrovan Airstream
NASA Astrovan Airstream The sight of the Astrovan's shiny silver exterior and bold NASA emblem evoked pride and excitement in those who watched it wind its way toward the launch pad at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Before each space shuttle launch, astronauts smiled and waved as they boarded the van that carried them to meet their fully fueled ride to space.
"The first time, everything about it is just the anticipation, excitement," says STS-135 Pilot Doug Hurley. "You're a little bit nervous, but it's just neat to know that you're one in a series of a very long line of astronauts who rode in this vehicle going to the pad for flight to space. It's pretty cool."
Since 1984, each shuttle crew has traveled those nine miles, from their crew quarters to the launch pad, aboard the same vehicle. A modified Airstream motor home, the "Astrovan" as it is called has only racked up about 26,500 miles in its 27 years of service. That's because it was solely used to transport the astronauts on three occasions: to the launch pad for launch dress rehearsal, on launch day and after landing.